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Knights and Cowboys out to make amends

Russell Jackson

A patched-up Newcastle aim to bolster their impressive record in Monday night football at Hunter Stadium when they meet North Queensland with both sides desperate to bounce back after heavy losses.

The Knights, who have won 11 of their 13 Monday night games at home, are without centre Dane Gagai (ankle), prop Willie Mason (calf) while five-eighth Jarrod Mullen is battling a knee problem but will start the game.

Newcastle welcome back representative centre Timana Tahu, who returns from a foot injury at left centre.

Veteran Anthony Quinn takes over at right centre from Gagai who suffered his injury in last week's 32-0 annihilation at the hands of Manly while David Fa'alogo comes in for Mason.

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North Queensland come into the match after being outclassed 32-10 by premiers Melbourne and captain Johnathan Thurston is adamant there were plenty of positives in the Cowboys' performance against the Storm.

"We created plenty of opportunities against Melbourne but we just couldn't put the ball over the line," Thurston said.

"It's going to be a tough test for us on Monday night but we are quietly confident we can get the job done."

Despite Newcastle's capitulation against Manly, Thurston insists the Cowboys have enormous respect for the Knights, who they have scored three successive wins over, with two of those wins at Hunter Stadium.

"They are stronger around the ruck than what they've been in the past with Jeremy Smith and Beau Scott added to their pack," Thurston said.

Both sides made impressive starts to the season with North Queensland beating last year's runners-up Canterbury while the Knights hammered the Wests Tigers 42-10.

One man who has been below his best by his own admission is Cowboys livewire fullback Matthew Bowen.

The classy No.1 had off-season shoulder surgery and has taken time to find form but Thurston warns Bowen will fire soon.

"Matty's a hard task master on himself and he's coming back from a shoulder injury as well," he said.

"No doubt we'll see Matty back to his best over the coming weeks and that's what we need him to do."